I will make this one short. I have a few thoughts rattling around. Like that’s ever a question? 
It will be one year, tomorrow, since Summer’s passing.
Since then… And this is a hastily made list in my mind… A few things have been done in her honor.
- Delavan Baptist Church Blood Drive
- A Scholarship Fund was created and the first recipient chosen
- Dee-Mack Science Award has been named in her honor
- A tree was planted at the school by the principal and her classmates
- I know of a few people with Tattoos in Summer’s name.
- Buttons and stickers have been tacked onto cars and apparel around Central Illinois
- An honorary degree was given by SIU.
(More will come to me… This was a quick list)
In my mind… It’s just not enough.
Will it ever be enough?
Ang and I stopped by to see Summer’s tree at the High School last night (also to admire Aiden’s paver as the stadium). The tree is in a struggle right now. The summer of 2024 has come on blazing and some of the ends on her oak are hardened and dying. Obviously, you want to see a thriving and lush tree as if it has been fertilized by her life and existance. Seriously… Everything that you do in someone’s name takes on some kind of supernatural meaning. Its a bit of a curse. Or some internal struggle to accomplish more in the goal of legacy.
I’ll keep working on these thoughts. A final resting place and memorial probably add a little bit of complication to these feelings of “moving forward”. I have pushed that off… Probably for that very reason.
I’m still very comfortable knowing Summer is resting in her room.
Nate is coming up tonight to hang out. Because, thankfully, he has asked a few times. I will admit to being in a malaise that is putting my on my heels socially. I could stay home and be quite content. Thankfully, Father’s Day did not give me that option. We went to Springfield to the McDonald Clan house for a fun day of celebration.
That, and a few drinks, took the edge off what could have been a somber day. Family, friends, and people are the best antidote to divert your path from becoming a shut-in. My job leaves little choice but to gab. That is probably a good thing. I know it is.
Looking forward to some games and laughs later.
Eric-I’ve been worried about this tree ever since I saw the post about it’s installation. From the gardener/naturalist trainings I’ve had… it looks like it is planted wrong. At first I dismissed it as ‘maybe you have to do it differently in IL.’ But seeing this update made me do a bit of digging to see if my initial concern was right. My big concerns are 1) did they do thorough root prep 2) it looks like it might be buried too deeply 3) that mulch volcano needs pulled back. Here is a good article I found from your local extension office. https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/info_sheet_tree_planting.pdf
I hate the feeling of coming along and critiquing something done out of love, especially by volunteers. But, I suspect everyone who was involved in the effort would prefer to see it thrive. If my concerns are correct, I don’t think it is too late to fix it. If I was there, I’d go over and take a closer look and replant it myself. (WITH permission, of course!) Maybe reach out to an arborist? They can tell you if I’m full of it and I just need to stick to Texas trees, or the best steps (and when to take them) to help this pretty tree along.
I need to say something to Mitch… I am out of my league on this kind of stuff!